Alexander Crum’s Pickleball Upset Victory: Alexander Crum pulled off a major upset on Tuesday at Life Time Peachtree Corners, defeating top seed Federico Staksrud in three games at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships presented by Ensure Max Protein. Crum won 11-9, 5-11, 11-6 in the men’s singles Round of 64.
Qualifier Beats the Favorite
Alexander Crum had already played two matches before facing Federico Staksrud. He came through Monday’s qualifying rounds and beat Todd Fought Tuesday morning just to earn a spot in the main draw. Despite that, Crum, age 33, believed in his chances.
“I know this is probably a shocking result for most people watching. But for people who know my game and know what I’m capable of, I knew that if I returned well and I volleyed well, I would have a good shot.” – (crum)
One of the highlights of Crum’s performance was his two-handed backhand. He used it to make several important passing shots at the kitchen line.
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Strong Self-Belief and Clear Strategy
Crum explained his approach against Federico Staksrud.
“The returns were so-so, and I knew I had to go big on them. I didn’t pass as much as I would have liked, but I basically categorize myself as a shorter, less consistent, slower version of Chris Haworth, and that’s still sometimes pretty good.” – (crum)
Alexander Crum compared himself to Chris Haworth, who has beaten Federico Staksrud in their last three matches. The comparison boosted Crum’s confidence.
“Obviously, I’m thrilled with the win. What Federico has done on the singles side is pretty incredible, so I’m kind of at a loss for words. I’m just gonna try and keep it rolling.” – (crum)
Moving Forward
Alexander Crum will play next in the Round of 32 on Wednesday against No. 27 seed Mota Alhouni. His unexpected win could shift momentum and draw more attention to players coming through qualifying.
Crum’s win proved that strong preparation and belief can overcome rankings. Fans will now watch closely to see how far he can go in the tournament.
News in Brief: Alexander Crum’s Pickleball Upset Victory
Alexander Crum upset top seed Federico Staksrud 11-9, 5-11, 11-6 in the men’s singles Round of 64 at Life Time Peachtree Corners. Crum came through qualifying to reach the main draw and will now face No. 27 seed Mota Alhouni in the Round of 32 on Wednesday.